Ministry of Power (MoP) recently announced an order for long-term growth trajectory of Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) for solar and Non-solar for a period of three years i.e. 2019-20 to 2021-2022. In order to achieve the target of 175 GW of RE by March 2022, the MoP in consultation with MNRE notified the long-term trajectory for RPO as below:

The obligations described are on total consumption of electricity by an obligated entity excluding consumption from the hydro source of power. It is necessary that the achievements of solar RPO compliance are up to 85% and above. If so, the remaining shortfall if any can be met by excess non-solar purchased beyond Non-solar RPO for that particular year. The same goes in case of Non-solar compliance which will be met by solar, beyond the solar RPO for that year.

RPO mechanism has been in the frame for a long time but have its own share of ups and down. Since last year, the process is getting back on trade and REC trading is also working consistently. MNRE recently announced about building an RPO compliance cell providing aid to SERCs for better implementation.

An article by Quartz India has also talked about how the Indian government is now pursuing major energy consumers to take the renewable energy route and has quoted entrepreneurs in the industry expressing their views on the current developments.

The trend till now has seen states not following their RPO obligations religiously. It is known by all the states that RPO is very important and abiding by it is mandatory. The order also falls under the National Tariff Policy 2016, which in itself is a recommendatory document in nature.

The updated RPO targets also come into the picture after the country’s Power Minister R.K.Singh announced in an interview about the increased capacity target to 227 GW from 175 GW earlier.